Hello, thank you so much for stopping by today! I’m beyond excited to share a super simple DIY project with you that took some seriously ugly, 90s lamps and turned them into stunning, modern lamps for our beach cottage. We’ve done a lot of great projects for the cottage, but this one is my absolute favorite! So here goes… my DIY Thrift Store Lamp Makeover.
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Back in September, B and I took a week off to stay at the beach cottage to simply enjoy it. We worked the summer away and just wanted some time to relax before the cold weather hit and we are forced to spend more time inside.
We were fortunate to have great weather most of the week but on one day that was rainy and not so nice, we decided to scope out some thrift stores in the area. B and I have always done this when traveling; it’s kind of like a treasure hunt for us.
One of the stores we visited that day had tons of lamps and that was an item we were on the hunt for for the living area at the cottage. We were looking for a set but sadly all the sets were either crazy expensive or there was just one. I did spot a gorgeous mercury glass lamp with a beautiful navy blue and white print lampshade. Sadly only one. Then I noticed on another shelf halfway across the room, there was a matching lampshade and no lamp.
I decided to buy them anyway feeling confident that I would be able to find two matching lamps for those beautiful shades eventually. Any that mercury glass lamp…I figured at the very least, I would use it in my studio as a desk lamp or something.
A few weeks ago, over Halloween weekend, B and I were once again at the beach house for a long weekend. After getting our project list done, we decided to visit a couple of the shops we’d discovered in September. This is the day we came home with the haul I shared here.
I was on the hunt for a wing back chair and B was focussed on lamps. He found two sets of lamps and after comparing the style, height and width for our space, the end tables, etc., we settled on two 90s brass lamps with a hunter green accent. They were a total of $7!
While not much to look at in their original state, I knew they had potential and felt like quality pieces. They also were in excellent shape so before heading home for the afternoon, we made a quick pit stop at Home Depot so I could grab a can of spray paint.
Stock was low so my choices were pretty limited but I found myself drawn to this soft gold so I bought a can.
A good cleaning of the lamps, taping off the components and cord and a couple of coats of paint and these babies were ready for their shades. Those navy and white lampshades from an early thrifting adventure are absolute perfection! Sadly, in all my excitement over this score, I failed to get photos of the lamps before. I promise, the after is all you really need to see!
These lamps are exactly what our living space needs for softer light in the evening and tie into all the details we already had in the space. I like the little touch of elegance to balance the more casual feel of the furniture. It’s just enough to make them feel special, kind of like jewelry.
Finding matching lamps while thrifting can be a challenge but it can also be a great way to save money. Be willing to look past a lamp’s current appearance to see what it could be. Like we did with our beach house lamps, it took a little added effort but the end result is priceless!
Resources:
- Metallic Matte Sunlit Brass Spray Paint and Primer in One: Home Depot / Amazon
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